This chapter reviews the assumptions of agonistic democratic theory and compares these with the foundations of participatory theory. It describes the main contours of contemporary participatory theory and shows how it is not congruent with agonistic democracy. It then examines a series of common objections to participatory politics drawn from the literature of democratic theory. The chapter develops an understanding of participatory politics appropriate to post-foundational democracy, asserting that agonism requires broad involvement by various groups and individuals at the various sites in society where power is exercised. It also describes by how a participatory political culture appropriate to agonistic theory might generate legitimate collectively binding outcomes, even absent institutions that tie decision-making authority to direct participation. The political implications of agonistic democracy depend upon two claims about political practice in democracies, the first about institutions and the second about citizenship.